Wednesday, March 25, 2009

I just found out I've been assigned to interview Wolfgang Puck for About.com. Of course, as Murphy's Law would have it (what's Austrian for Murphy?), this comes along while I'm traveling, with time and creativity being in shorter supply.

So, I was wondering if you help me out by submitting a question or two that I could use for the interview. Any and all serious ideas are appreciated. I need to submit between 10 and 15 questions to my editors ASAP.

Chef Puck's famous California pizza (pictured here) will be the topic of a few of the questions, but I need more. Thanks!Photo (c) Flickr user pinhole(Mark)'s

45 comments:

How did he get hooked up with QVC or is it Home Shopping selling his brand cookware on TV? How does he manage his time to oversee his restaurants? Who was his inspiration to learn to cook? Last question, can he do a cooking video with you in the near future? Maybe make apple strudel?

How do you ensure the quality of each of your restaurants (including Wolfgang "to-go's" found in grocery stores) are up to spec. Do you personally visit each and every establishment (including grocery stores) to guarantee the quality of food is on par with what you envisioned as a master chef?

Why has he had such staying power esp in hollywood where chefs and restaurants come and go faster than lottery winnings in a trailer park?He has been around forever and I'd like to know how he handles the pressure of staying current and fresh and innovative with food. Does he hire people to develop new recipes or is he constantly trying to create his own new dishes much like a musician writing new songs? Also, if he knew there was a woman in NC who was his number 1 fan would he send her a deep dish pumpkin pie with cranberry marmalade even if it's not Thanksgiving?

Is the popularity of all the cooking shows, schools, etc raising the bar for American cuisine? Or is it really more entertainment than education? (With the exception of Chef John, who manages both beautifully!)

Would you ever considering bringing your culinary talents and experience to a public school system? To revamp school food as it commonly known (bland, unexciting, little variety, and not to mention not very nutritious)? Better school lunches - with gourmet items and more tasteful fare - would benefit kids by helping their body and mind, thereby improving learning and academic success.

You should challenge him to a pizza cooking throwdown. chef john style. and before the battle begins you should spit a freestyle verse

"This is chef john and I'm reppin the hoodDid you try my molten lava cake?The hunnies said it's too goodNow I'm not trying to start a fireWith my no knead recipesBut when I cook I can see the desireIn yo mama's eyes, she said I was the best she ever seen."

i don't know if i'm to late (most likely) but i would ask what inspired him to make a california type of pizza? what is his favorite thing to eat when sick, lonely, or happy? what would be your very last meal if you could pick? :D just some questions i thought of. i don't know that much about him sorry. but good luck :) can't wait to see how it went.

If it's not too late, here's a question for the chef, Wolfgang Puck, "If President Obama called and asked him to come up with a complete day's menu and serve it at the White House for the First Family, what would he create?